promoting care, opposing euthanasia

Isle of Man's assisted suicide No

Members of the House of Keys, the lower house of the Tynwald (the Manx Parliament), this week declined by 17 votes to 5 to allow a bill for assisted suicide.

The proposal had originally been contained in a petition to Tynwald at the annual Tynwald Day celebrations last July.

Millie Blenkinsop-French '[called] upon Tynwald to introduce Legislation with the intension to legalize "Assisted Suicide" For people who have a Terminal Illness, and no Quality of life.' She contended that:

'There comes a time in life when "Enough is Enough"

This is the 21st Century- Human Beings should not have to die in Agony, Frustration, or Mental Despair.

Let us be the "First" and pave the way to rectify this deplorable situation

I am not afraid to die — I am afraid of "How I die"'

The proposal was supported by Juan Watterson, Home Affairs Minister (the Isle of Man is not a part of the United Kingdom but rather a Crown Dependency which makes its own laws). Mr Watterson has previously been linked with such efforts but following the 17-5 defeat in the directly-elected lower chamber, prompted in large part by the concerns of the healthcare community, he told the BBC:

'The House has spoken today, it's important for me to respect that decision but, it's something that... obviously I've got my views, a lot of other individual members have got their views, and if the mood of the House or the mood of the public changes in the future, then that'd be a good point to bring it back.'